Cambridge English Listening: How to Use the Second Listening
Hiroki Obara · DeveloperAlphaGeorgeHow-To
In every Cambridge English Listening test, from A2 Key (KET) to C2 Proficiency (CPE), each recording is played twice. Cambridge publishes a handbook for teachers for each exam, and for every part of the Listening test there is a section called “How to approach the task” that says what the first and second listening are for.
This post is based on five handbooks: A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency. They are written for teachers, but much of the advice is about what candidates do.
The Listening Test at Each Level
| Exam | Time | Parts | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2 Key (KET) | about 30 minutes | 5 | 25 |
| B1 Preliminary (PET) | about 30 minutes | 4 | 25 |
| B2 First (FCE) | about 40 minutes | 4 | 30 |
| C1 Advanced (CAE) | about 40 minutes | 4 | 30 |
| C2 Proficiency (CPE) | about 40 minutes | 4 | 30 |
On paper, you write your answers on the question paper as you listen and copy them onto the answer sheet at the end: 6 minutes for KET and PET, 5 minutes for FCE, CAE and CPE. On computer, there are 2 minutes at the end to check your answers. The other differences between the two are in Cambridge English Exams: Computer or Paper?
The parts of each test are listed in the preparation posts for A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First and C1 Advanced. C2 Proficiency has these four:
- Part 1: three short recordings of about a minute each, with two 3-option questions on each (6 questions)
- Part 2: a 3 to 4 minute monologue, with gaps to fill in sentences (9 questions)
- Part 3: a 3 to 4 minute recording with interacting speakers, with 4-option questions (5 questions)
- Part 4: five short monologues of about 35 seconds on one theme, with two matching tasks (10 questions)
KET and PET: Choose First, Check Second
The KET and PET handbooks both say that all texts are heard twice and that learners should use both listenings to refine their answers. The advice for each part follows the same pattern: choose an answer on the first listening, and check it on the second. What changes is what to listen for the first time.
For KET:
| Part | Before listening | First listening | Second listening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 (choose a picture) | Read the question and look at the three pictures | Listen for specific information and choose | Check, focusing on the key information |
| Part 2 (gaps in notes) | Use the pause to read the title and questions and think about the context | Find the information and write it down | Check the answers are correct |
| Part 3 (conversation, 3 options) | Read and listen to the instructions to understand the context | Get the gist and choose for each question | Check every answer, focusing on specific information |
| Part 4 (short recordings, 3 options) | Read the question and options | Listen for gist and choose | Check carefully that the answer is correct |
| Part 5 (matching) | Read the questions and think about the context | Get the gist and choose for each question | Check every answer, focusing on specific information |
For Part 5 the handbook adds that all the words in each list come from the same set, such as family members or birthday presents.
For PET:
| Part | First listening | Second listening |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 (choose a picture) | Listen for gist and choose | Check, focusing on the key information |
| Part 2 (short dialogues, 3 options) | Focus on gist and choose | Check the answer is correct |
| Part 3 (gaps in a monologue) | Note single words, numbers or very short noun phrases | Check each answer makes sense in the completed sentence and is a concrete piece of information |
| Part 4 (interview, 3 options) | Listen for gist and choose | Check every answer, focusing on detailed meaning and stated attitudes or opinions |
Parts 3 and 4 also say how to use the pause before listening. In Part 3, read the text on the page and predict the kind of language and information you will hear. In Part 4, read the questions and think about the context. In Part 3, the order of the information on the page can help you follow the recording.
FCE and Above: When to Wait for the Second Listening
The B2, C1 and C2 handbooks also treat the second listening as the time to confirm answers. They add specific cases where deciding too early causes problems.
B2 First Part 3 has five speakers and eight options. The handbook says that if candidates are at all unsure, they should wait for the second listening before making a final decision, because deciding too quickly may “use up” an option that belongs to another speaker.
C1 Advanced Part 1 has two questions on each short conversation. Because the two questions have different focuses, the information for them may come from different parts of the recording, so they may not be answerable in sequence. The handbook says to listen to the whole extract once before choosing and not to assume too soon that the answer has been heard. It then suggests marking one answer to each question at the end of the first listening, even if unsure, and using the second listening to confirm it or not.
C2 Proficiency Part 3 says that if an answer cannot be heard on the first listening, candidates should mentally leave that point and refocus on the next question, since the second listening lets them finalise their answers. The B2 First handbook has a similar point: know when to stop concentrating on a difficult question so you don’t miss the next one.
C1 and C2 Part 4: choose your approach
In Part 4 of C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, you hear five short monologues and answer two matching tasks. The whole series is played once, then the whole series is repeated.
The handbooks describe two approaches. One is to do one task on each listening. The other is to work on both tasks at once, answering the easier questions on the first listening and the harder ones when the recording is repeated. The tasks can be done in either order, and the handbooks ask teachers not to impose one strategy. Trying both on a sample test is a way to find the one that suits you.
Reading the Questions First
Every handbook says to use the time before each part to read the questions. The B2 First handbook says the information on the question paper is there to help candidates follow as they listen.
In the longer parts, the questions follow the order of the information in the recording. The B2, C1 and C2 handbooks all say this. The C1 Advanced handbook suggests learning to notice discourse markers, interviewers’ questions and other features that show how a text is structured.
On options, the C1 and C2 handbooks suggest that preparation for Part 3 can focus on the question stems rather than the options, so that you listen for the answer and then match it to the closest option. For B2 First Part 4, the handbook suggests answering a question in your own words before looking at the options, then choosing the option closest to your answer.
Gap-Fill Parts: Write the Words You Hear
Every level has a part where you write words in gaps, and in each the answer is a word or words from the recording. The PET, FCE and CAE handbooks say not to rephrase what you hear, and the CPE handbook says to write the actual words heard. The B2 First handbook notes that irrelevant detail can spoil what would otherwise be a correct answer.
Length and spelling vary by level:
- KET Part 2: one word, or a number, date or time. A word spelled out in the recording must be spelled correctly, and common words must also be spelled correctly.
- PET Part 3: mostly single words, numbers or very short noun phrases. Words spelled out must be correct.
- FCE Part 2: no more than three words, often one or two. Minor spelling errors are not penalised, but the intended answer must be clear. Candidates are not asked to spell words above B2 level.
- CAE Part 2: a single word or short phrase, usually no more than three words. Correct spelling is expected, and both US and British spellings are accepted. If you cannot hear whether a word is singular or plural, the handbook says to check the rest of the sentence.
- CPE Part 2: short answers, generally single words or noun groups. They must be spelled correctly and fit the grammar of the sentence.
The FCE and CPE handbooks say to read the text after the gap as well as before it. The words after the gap may affect the answer, and reading them stops you repeating information that is already in the sentence.
Don’t Leave Blanks
The KET and PET handbooks say candidates won’t lose marks for a wrong answer, so they should not leave blank spaces. The FCE, CAE and CPE handbooks say candidates should get used to answering every question even when unsure. All five add that candidates have probably understood more than they think.
In the computer-based test you can still make notes on paper. The handbooks give the example of writing down two possible answers when you are unsure. The notes stay on the desk at the end of the exam.
Preparing at Home
The “Preparing learners” sections of the handbooks describe preparation before the exam.
The KET and PET handbooks suggest using the transcript after finishing a task, to find the key phrases, cues and distraction. The CPE handbook suggests marking where the correct answer is in the transcript and discussing why the wrong options are wrong. The C1 Advanced handbook adds a different note for Part 4: for gist listening, going through the text closely afterwards may not help develop the right listening strategies.
On how much to listen, the B2 First handbook recommends a daily “hearing English” component from audio or video, with a range of voices, accents and styles of delivery. It also suggests listening for the stressed syllables and words that carry the message, rather than trying to catch every syllable. The C1 and C2 handbooks name news broadcasts, documentaries and discussions, as well as light entertainment and drama in English, as suitable material. The B2, C1 and C2 handbooks recommend plenty of practice listening on headphones.
At higher levels you also need the language used to report what speakers think and feel. For C1 Advanced Part 3, the handbook lists reporting verbs such as regrets and admits, adjectives for feelings such as disappointed and frustrated, words for opinions such as insists and denies, and words for degrees of certainty such as doubtful and convinced. The C2 Proficiency handbook recommends summarising what speakers say and practising with texts where opinions are stated indirectly, “listening between the lines”.
The C1 and C2 handbooks also note that the format and task types are always the same, and that it helps to work through a sample test before the exam. The audio for the handbooks’ sample tests can be downloaded from each exam’s preparation page.
Listening Practice in AlphaGeorge
AlphaGeorge, which I make for iPhone and iPad, is an app for Cambridge English exam preparation. The course has six levels from A1 to C2 and 66 units in all, and the A2 to C2 levels are aimed at KET through CPE. Its questions were written for the app.
In the course’s listening questions, the Continue button becomes available after you play the audio twice, and Show Transcript lets you read the English text. The Warm-up on the home screen is five dictation and shadowing questions a day, and there are also Dictation and Shadowing quick drills.
AlphaGeorge is free to start, with ads and a limit of hearts. AlphaGeorge Premium, a monthly or yearly subscription, removes ads, makes hearts unlimited and lets you replay finished lessons. More on using the app is in AlphaGeorge Tips.
